Public Relations & Event Management

"Employment of public-relations specialists is expected to increase by more than 66,000 jobs, or 24 percent, between 2008 and 2018," according to U.S. News & World Report, and CNN Money ranks PR as one of the best jobs in America.*

It's no wonder that so many students want to study Public Relations and Event Management (PREM). PREM provides hands-on experience preparing graduates to play essential organizational roles. Meeting standards of the International Consortium for Public Relations Education, PREM includes a minor in technical writing, a cognate in marketing, and allows use of additional minors and electives to customize the major toward specialized areas of public relations and event management practice, such as:

Program Requirements

PREM students gain real-world experience participating in public relations and event management activities for profit and non-profit organizations throughout Central Texas.

Designed to meet the criteria of the International Consortium for Public Relations Education, the PREM degree plan mirrors expectations for professionals in the field. The curriculum is reviewed and revised regularly to assure up-to-date requirements.

PREM class projects are typical of professional PR practice, resulting in unusually high levels of student dedication, critical thinking, problem solving, and professionalism. Student projects generate positive public relationships and media coverage for class clients, the Public Relations & Event Management program, the Department of Communication Studies, and TSU.

Applied-learning experience is a major underpinning of the Public Relations & Event Management program, so PREM students learn social responsibility in action—a principle foundation of PR theory and practice. Service learning and applied learning put classroom knowledge, skills, and values into action.

Class teams work with businesses and nonprofit clients on fundraising, promotions, volunteerism, reputation management, and special events. Through these projects, class clients receive public relations and events help and students gain pre-professional experience.

responsibility

Faculty Experience

Dr. Sarah Maben, assistant professor of communication studies, joined Tarleton State University after several years at TCU's Schieffer School of Journalism. She taught journalism and public relations courses at Baylor University and the University of Georgia, was director of communication at a large trade association for the multifamily housing industry, and worked for a daily newspaper and for magazines, before serving as director of ... more

Dr. Jennifer Edwards, assistant professor of communication studies, previously was coordinator of Multicultural and International Services at Sam Houston State University (SHSU). There she planned campus events, including the SHSU Diversity Leadership Conference, Diversity Week, and annual Tree of Light celebration. While working on her doctorate, Dr. Edwards coordinated public relations and advertising for the SHSU ... more

Ms. Cristi Horton, Tarleton communication instructor for twelve years, has publications emphasizing the importance of the public's voice in influencing environmental policy. Her research interests include improvement of public participation formats and processes so that grassroots environmental and conservation groups' voices are heard in the environmental decision-making process. She was a Co-PI for the Yellowstone River Cultural ... more

CENTRAL TEXAS WEDDING EXPO, hosted at Tarleton's ballroom, is an annual event open to the public. The boutique-style show includes wedding vendors, fashions, games, and drawing for brides, grooms, and their wedding parties. PREM students were involved in planning, coordination, and management for all aspects of this major event. The annual grand prize is a wedding package at the Chapel on the Bosque, planned and coordinated by Legendary Weddings & Special Events™.

MARGARITA CHARITY BALL, benefiting Children's Charities of Fort Worth, is attended by about 1500 formally attired guests each year. The event is by invitation only and admission is one new, high-quality, unwrapped toy per person. PREM students work on decorations, silent-auction setup and management, admission to the event, coat check, and checkout after the auction closes. The next morning, PREM students participate in breakdown and storage of decorations, after-auction sales, and sorting of toys for distribution to needy children in the region.

BYGONE DAYS ON THE BOSQUE, with PREM event-lab partner the Stephenville Museum, is an annual event open to the public. Legendary Weddings and Special Events™ helps take about 2000 visitors on a trip back in time, to frontier days in Erath County. PREM students are involved in setup, exhibit coordination, visitor relations, crowd control, and event breakdown/cleanup. They also support the museum's fundraising efforts by working at silent auctions. raffles, etc., at the event.